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Looking at March Employment Numbers

U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis recently commented on the March 2010 Employment Situation report by saying that the economy gained 162,000 jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 9.7%. 

“Today’s numbers show that the steps we have taken over the past year have put the American economy on the right track,” she says. “The most recent estimates from the Congressional Budget Office indicate that the Recovery Act raised employment by between 1 million and 2.1 million jobs through the end of 2009, and raised GDP by 1.5% to 3.5% in the fourth quarter.

“The job growth this month is an encouraging sign, but we still have more work to do. Fifteen million Americans are still unemployed, and 6.5 million have been looking for work for more than six months. That is why it is important Congress pass continuations of COBRA health coverage and unemployment benefits. While we are encouraged to see continued growth in the temporary help services sector, the manufacturing sector has seen modest job growth over the last three months. And employment in health care and education sectors continued to increase.

“Job creation remains the administration’s primary focus, and we are tackling the problem from all angles. The actions this administration has undertaken are providing relief to the jobless and encouraging new hiring in the private sector. However, we know that we still have a ways to go before we can be sure that all Americans have access to good jobs, and we will continue working toward that goal.”